Sat Nav & GPS Blog

Following on from the quiet launch of the TICodes location code system late last year, GPS Ireland have finally released their version of an Irish postal code system (PONC) on 16th of June.  You can receive your TICode from http://www.ticodes.ie and PONC code from http://www.irishpostcodes.ie.

The concept behind both systems is very similar – each company has develop their own algorithm to convert a geographic latitude/longitude pair to an easy-to-remember 7 character alphanumeric code.  A clear objective of both companies has to be that their system will ultimately be accepted by the relevant authorities as the de facto postal code system for Ireland.

A quick review of both sites is that it is easy and quick to retrieve your TICode. The web site is straighforward to use and one of the clever features is that you can search for your TICode based on typing in your address (it even allows you to lookup based on house name) so there is no need to use online maps, which can be inaccurate, to determine your TICode.  There is a basic interface to download TICodes to most Garmin sat nav.

www.irishpostcodes.ie, on initial impression, is more difficult to follow. Furthermore, to retrieve your PONC code it should not be necessary to submit your email address (or at the very least it should be made optional).  For those with Garmin nuvi 700 sat-nav you will be able to do full look-ups of PONC codes but you will need a software update from GPS Ireland to do this. 

Both location systems are in beta testing at present so there should be more news from TICode and GPS Ireland in the coming months.

People may find the following of interest

http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2008/06/24/komplett_down_pan/

The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation into TomTom’s proposed acquisition of TeleAtlas. The EC feels that the merging of the two Dutch companies raises vertical competition concerns and whether this transaction would significantly disrupt effective competition within the European Economic Area.

TomTom, one of the leading producers of portable navigation devices in Europe, put a bid in for TeleAtlas, one of the two producers of navigable digital maps, last year outbidding TomTom’s rival Garmin. The European Commission’s main concern is whether this affliation would increase the costs of other PND manufacturers for digital maps or limit the access to the maps, and as a consequence harm consumers.

The merger for TomTom would give them a significant hold on the car GPS market as they would now not only be hardware producers but software too.

No sooner had Teleatlas been snatched up by TomTom, now Nokia have followed in their footsteps by acquiring sat nav mapping and software specialist giants Navteq. It seems that the Finnish mobile phone company have taken notice of the increasingly high demand for satellite navigation. This recent acquisition is great for the GPS enthusiasts as there is now going to be a wider selection and a more competitive GPS market.

So, does this mean that Garmin should worry? I don’t think so, because Nokia have said that they intend to keep Navteq as an independent unit, which means that the likes of Garmin and Route 66 will still be able to aquire a mapping licence.

Would you buy it??

Even though it is not on the market yet, the guys over at GPS Magazine got their hands on the Edge 705 and literally took it for a test spin…..

Here are some of the features that you can look forward to with the new GPS device for cycling enthusiasts……

1. Battery Life – 3 hours longer than the 305
2. Mapping – Comes with a preloaded basemap and the ability to add maps with a micro SD – Mapsource for city expeditions.
3. Unit to unit transfer – you can now share your courses, workouts and saved rides with other Edge 705 owners. You can even send a course to your friend to try out!!
4. Garmin Connect – a new one-stop site for data analysis and sharing will allow you to connect your Edge 705 to your computer and share info with other users worldwide.

Check out the review for yourself at GPS Magazine

The Sunday Times recently reported an increase in theft from cars. The article printed on the 16th of September goes on to report that one of the main causes of this increase is the popularity of car GPS systems.

According to the Central Statistics Office, Satnav’s now account for almost 25% of items stolen from vehicles in Dublin. Risk of theft is highest in the Dublin suburbs due to the fact that people are parking their cars and commuting to work. The satnav is a very attractive piece of equipment for a thief as it is untrackable and can be taken with ease. The Gardai are not a happy bunch as this has increased overall crime figures by 3% and is foreseen to have a impact on the figures for the rest of the year unless GPS owners take care.

Mysatnav were asked by the Sunday Times how could this be prevented? Our tips are as follows…..

1. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR SYSTEM IN THE CAR!!!!!! Take it with you or at the very least, hide it somewhere in the car so that it can’t be seen!
2. Remove any visible cables or mounts and remove any “ring marks” from the windscreen – thieves will assume that you have left the GPS in the glove compartment and will break in to try and find it!
3. Purchase a Portable Friction Mount – this is the best anti-theft accessory for any GPS device as it does not leave any marks on your windscreen. When you are getting out of the car, simply place the friction mount under the car seat.

We are extremely happy that GPS Magazine has reviewed the Garmin Portable Friction Mount as we at mysatnav.ie have always been singing its praises.

This is the best anti-theft accessory for your nuvi/streetpilot. Why?…because it leaves no marks. The windscreen suction mount tends to leave a “ring” mark on your windscreen, thus alerting any thief that there may be an expensive piece of portable equipment in your car. The Portable Friction Mount on the other hand is a beanbag mount with a friction base enabling you to place it on you dashboard, mark-free! When you leave your car, simply place the mount under your car seat.

Check out the review for yourself – GPS Magazine, Garmin Portable Friction Mount Review

The Garmin nüvi 660 has always been our bestseller out of all the in-car GPS systems. The popularity of this product has been confirmed by a recent consumer survey of GPS systems.

Out of 18 products from 11 manufacturers, the Garmin nüvi 660 was awarded an “Excellent” rating on the majority of categories compared to the “Very Good” rating received by many of it’s competitors. One of the main reasons for the nüvi 660 topping the poll was it’s extra features. Consumers appeared to be very interested in GPS systems that featured street name pronunciation, a MP3 player and real time traffic reports. The nüvi 660 has all these features plus more, making it “streets ahead” of it’s competitors.

Don’t believe us? Check out the article for yourself! – Consumer Reports Announces New Ratings for Portable GPS Navigation Systems